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July 2020 Class Notes

Ray Van Dyke ’75Ann Werner Van Dyke (C ’68) and H. Ray Van Dyke (AS ’75) will celebrate their 53rd anniversary on Aug. 27, 2020. (Pictured to the left are Ray and their granddaughters.)

Thomas Wilkins (C ’78) was named the artistic advisor for education and community engagement for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

James Cochran (B ’89) was named special agent in charge of the operational support division of the New York Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Jonathan Noyalas (AS ’01) hosted a virtual Lunch & Learn program sponsored by the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley on June 18, 2020, where he discussed “the complexities of life for enslaved and free blacks in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War Era.”

Edmond Murphy ’04Edmond Murphy (C ’04) hosted his very first virtual chorus concert with his fifth grade students at Newbury School in Howell, New Jersey. (Pictured to the right.)

Christina Marshburn ’09Christina Madison Marshburn (C ’09) and her husband, Kevin, welcomed their first child, Peggy Jane, on May 29, 2020. (Pictured to the left.)

Rebekah Rigg Pennington (C ’09) will begin working as a special education teacher at Millbrook High School in Winchester, Virginia, on Aug. 6, 2020.

Clarinet Alumni Perform SleepErika Batalla Gates (C ’12), AnnaMarie Ignarro (C ’12), Caitlin Beare (C ’13), Elisabeth Stimpert (C ’13), Paul Wissman (C ’15), Jacob Moyer (C ’17), Shannon Williams (C ’17) and Annie Griggs (C ’19) joined together to perform “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre on the clarinet. (Pictured to the right.)

Lindsey Kihm Knox (HP ’12) was named area vice president of operations for Physical Rehabilitation Network’s Washington business units.

Erika Francis faculty photoAn article by Erika Renaud Nelson Francis (HP ’13) titled “Operating Room Virtual Reality Immersion Improves Self-Efficacy Amongst Pre-Clinical Physician Assistant Students” was published in the July/August edition of the Journal of Surgical Education. (Pictured to the left.)

Kathryn Lynch (B ’13) was named director of communications and press secretary for the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.

Brandon Shields (ED ’14) was named the head men’s basketball coach at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Virginia.

Leigh Miller ’17Leigh Miller (HP ’17) and her husband, Chris, welcomed a daughter, Virginia Morgan, on Jan. 21, 2020. (Pictured to the right.)

Catherine Gummer (AS ’18) has begun working towards her doctorate in occupational therapy at the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia.

Alexandra Luden (ED ’19) married Hunter Lockley on July 24, 2019.

Danee Simmons (AS ’20) was featured in an article in The Winchester Star called “‘Enough is enough:’ Local protest calls for criminal justice reform” where she discussed criminal justice reform.

Lindsey Turner (P ’20) was featured in an article on kinston.com titled “Early College alumni shave years off academic timetable to earn doctorates” for her hard work towards becoming a pharmacist in record time.


In Memoriam

Lois Geist Depp (C ’53) passed away on May 22, 2020. She was a lifelong educator, serving as a kindergarten teacher, a vocal music teacher and a music and art supervisor. She also led many church choirs, including Woodland Avenue United Methodist Church, Fairview United Methodist Church and Bethany Lutheran Church. She is survived by her husband, her two daughters, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Pamela Robinson (’65) passed away on June 9, 2020. Early in her career, she worked with the Job Corps in Huntington, West Virginia, and at McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Later, she taught business and computer skills for 37 years at Elkton High School, Spotswood High School and Elkton Middle School. She is survived by her partner, Linda, her brothers, nephews and niece.

Glenda “Susie” Johnson (C ’70) passed away on June 11, 2020. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia, for most of her life. She had various jobs throughout her life, as a teacher in Roanoke County Schools and as an employee of Appalachian Power. Susie was involved in music ministry, taught Sunday School, missions and camp ministries. She is survived by her brother, three nieces and one nephew.

Ronald Kercheval (’72) passed away on June 12, 2020. He was a printing officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was instrumental in developing CD-ROM technology for the Corps. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Winchester, Virginia. He is survived by three nephews and many cousins.

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